Gas engine ignites



(No Modl.) Z'Sheetsf-Sheet 2;

' G. W. ROTH.

, GAS ENGINE IGNITBR. N0. 549,213. 1. Patented NOV. 5.1895.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GILSON IV. ROTH, OF INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA.

GAS-ENGINE IGNITER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 549,213, dated November5, 1895.

Application filed November l2, 1894. Serial No. 528,4=89.y (No model.)

To @ZZ whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, GILsoN W. ROTH, a citizen of the United States,residing at Indianapolis, in the county of Marion and State 0f Indiana,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Gas-EngineIgniters; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the saine, reference beinghad to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference markedthereon, which form a part of this specification. Y

My invention relates to that class of engines in which a mixture of gasor gasoline and air under compression is ignited by an electric spark tooperate the piston.

The object of my invention is to provide a gas or gasoline engine withfour insulated cylinders, each cylinder providing power at differenttimes at every half-revolution of the crank-shaft and to provide meanswhereby an electric spark will be caused in each of the cylinders at theproper time in order that the engine may have few dead-points, and,further, to provide means whereby an electric spark may be YproducedWithout turning the crank-shaft to start the engine when same is is notrunning; also means to automatically break off thecircuit in each of thecylinders when the cylinders are exhausting the burned gases, and whichwill automatically connectY the circuit at the proper time when the en-vgine has compressed the gas and is ready to fire, thus saving thebatteries, as the spark is only necessary in each of the cylinders atevery other revolution of the stroke.

A further object is to provide a simple, inexpensive, and efficientmechanism for producing an electric spark to eifect the ignition of thecharge of compressed gas.

It will be seen that each of the reciprocating pistons of the engine isprovided with an insulated electrode directly on a line with each otherand in such a Ymanner that they will act with yielding pressure upon theprojecting electrode of the piston as it is carried against it by themovement of same.

It is obvious that a gas-engine of this type,l only igniting in each ofthe cylinders at every other revolution of the stroke and means wherebythe engine may be started without turning the crank-shaft, will run moreuni- Referring to the drawings, Figure l represents a plan view. Fig. 2is a vertical longitudinal sectional view of Fig. 1 on line x x. Fig. 3is an enlarged broken sectional view of the cylinder, showing theelectrodes. Fig. 4 is an end View of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a broken ,planview showing the long and short electrodes.

AQ A2, A3, and Al are the cylinders.

Bis the bed-plate; D,the crank-shaft,which has suitable bearings E.

C is the piston, and F is the piston-rod.

G is the water-space around the cylinders.

The combustion end of the cylinder is provided with a head,` preferablymade integral therewith, so as to securely inclose it and conline theexplosive materials, the water-space covers, each of the two cylindersand entirely around them, and is provided with suitable supply anddischarge openings.

I-I is a combined supply and exhaust Valve which communicates with thecombustion end of the cylinders and has the rods I to operate thesupply-valve and the rods J to operate the discharge or exhaust valves.Said rods are operated by means of the cams L, preferably made separate,so that each rod will operate independently of each other and aresecured to the vertical shaft M. Said shaft has the yoke-bracket N atthe top and bearings O at the bottom and is operated by means of thespiral gear-wheel P meshing in the spiral worm R on the crank-shaft. TheVertical shaft M is intended to make one revolution to two revolutionsof the crank-shaft D'. Each of the said cams has one projection J on itsperiphery to operate the valve-rods. The end of the valve-rods bearingagainst the cams have rollers to avoid friction and wear and has thespiral spring N to automatically close the valves after the projectionon the cam has passed the roller.

S is the electrode in the piston-head and is ICO electric spark and willignite the explosive material.

It is to be understood that the flexible electrode U is slightly longerthan the electrode T and that said short electrode T only makes thespark as it slides oit the angle, and itonly has the platinum point. Thelong iiexible electrode U is only intended to connect the circuit untilthe spark is produced.

V is a handle to connect the circuit to produce a spark when the engineis not running and is provided with the bifurcated arms which come incontact with both of the iiexible electrodes When the rubber handle Y isturned slightly to the right.

Z is the stem, and is provided With a valveseat Iy to prevent the gasesfrom escaping from the cylinder and is insulated from the cylinder. Itisto be also understood that the cylinder and piston are insulated and arenot in the circuit.

I arrange an electric battery or a series of batteries in suitablepositions and carry the wires a and b from their poles to theelectrodes.

I arrange in a convenient place on top of the engine a circuit-breakerCZ and CZ, to which the Wires c. and b are attached, respectively, andthe circuit is only connected in each of the cylinders as the cam e ofthe governorshaft presses the breakers d and d together, and after thecam has passed the breaker the circuit is broken by means of the pointsseparating.

In operation the cylinders A4 and A are connected and are in thecircuit. A4 has ignited an d is forcing out the burned gases. A is nowignited, and as soon as the piston reaches the opposite end the circuiton cylinders A4 and A' Vis broken. By this time the cam c has passed thebreakers d and d and closed the breakers on the opposite side, andcylinders A2 and A3 are in the circuit and remain so until after saidcylinders ignite7 respectively, in succession.

f is an insulated block between the two plates of the breakers.

It vill be manifest to a skilled mechanic that the details of.construction may be variously modiiied Within the limits of my inventionWithout materially changing the mode of action. v

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secureby Letters Patent, is

l. In a gas or gasoline engine, the combination with two or morecylinders, of a piston in each cylinder, the crank shaft connected Withsaid pistons,valves controlling the supply ot' explosive materials toeach cylinder and also controlling the exhaust, a vertical shaftoperating from the crank shaft, operatively connected with said supplyand exhaust valves, and devices for igniting the charge of explosivematerials in each of the cylinders successively, and a circuit breaker,operated by a cam for each set of cylinders to connect the circuit tocause a spark in each of t-he cylinders at the proper time and means forproducing a spark when the engine is not running, substantially asdescribed.

2. In combination, the cylinder, the stationary electrodes secured inthe head thereof, the reciprocating piston carrying an electrode adaptedto contact and break contact with said stationary electrodes to form aspark and the supplemental means for forming a spark when the piston isinactive, substantially as described.

3. In combination, the cylinder, the piston reciprocating thereincarrying an electrode, the stationary electrodes secured in the cylinderhead adapted to contact and break contact with said electrode, carriedby the piston, when said piston is operated, to form a spark and thesupplemental electrode adapted to contact and break contact with saidstationary electrodes to form a spark When said piston is inactive,substantially as described.

4. In combination, the cylinder, the piston reciprocating thereincarrying an electrode, the stationary electrodes secured in the cylinderhead adapted to contact with said electrode carried by the piston, thesupplemental electrode and the means for manually operating saidsupplemental electrode when said piston is inactive to form a spark,substantially as described. y,

5. In combination the cylinder, the piston reciprocating thereincarrying an electrode, the two stationary electrodes secured in thecylinder head, the supplemental forked electrode provided With anoperating handle outside the cylinder head, said handle being adapted tobe turned to cause the arm to cont-act and break contact with thestationary electrodes for forming a spark, substantially as described.

6. In a gas engine having two pairs of cylinders, the electrodes securedin the heads of eachcylinder, the common Wires connecting the electrodesof each pair of cylinders, the independent contact spring for each pairoi' cylinders and the cam alternately closing the circuit through eachpair of cylinders, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence ot two Witnesses.

GILSON IV. ROTH. Titnesses J No. S. THURMAN, MERRILL MooREs.

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